What's up, housecat?

And this represents the last of the companionship posts!! 

But don't worry...there are still (at least) 3 more Utah trip related posts to come!

So, the last of my companions that I was able to meet up with is Sister Dalley. 

(Real name Michelle Smith- but, as with the others- she will always be Dalley to me)

Sister Dalley actually hosted the mini reunion at her (beautiful!) home and was such an amazing hostess that I didn't get as much time to talk to her as I wanted. 

Which didn't surprise me in the least. 

Dalley has been one of my greatest example of true charity and kindness. 

We were companions at the end of her mission.

A lot of people (ummm....not me, I swear) just coast along, planning to go home and lose focus. 

There was not  day that went by that she didn't work hard. 

And she was endlessly kind. 

I told her at the mini reunion that, before I worked with her, I had always thought that super pretty girls only pretended to be nice but were all, in fact, mean on the inside. 

I don't know if I have ever met anyone more genuinely kind and sweet than Dalley. 

 Graveyards in Chicago are very dramatic- you can see us kind of laughing. We laughed every single day. 

In addition to planning for, preparing, and hosting this reunion that I requested, she baked me a tres leches cake with pineapple on top (the pineapple represent shrimp...don't ask!) and she got me AMAZING bath and body works lotion - trying to find the scent I used to wear on the mission!!

This girl has 3 children (including a small baby), works as a nurse practitioner with women and girls with eating disorders and a million other things and she took the time to bake me a cake and remember what kind of lotion I wore 12 years ago. 

 This cake was EPIC! (Don't listen to Tyler say it tasted like Christmas!) 

I can't even bring myself to be angry that she hasn't aged a day in the last 12 years. 

No one will ever know all the wonderful memories I have of Dalley- all of the hours she spent listening to my complain and (literally) cry, the effort she put into helping me to dress nice and do my hair so I could feel more confident, the way she taught herself Spanish so she could teach our families in their language, the way she could always see the fun in every situation. 

I still thank God often for bringing Sister Dalley in my life.

 For the example she has always set for me.

 For her teaching me how to hairspray my hair so it won't move out of place for 12 hours. 

She was, is, and always will be beautiful in every way. 

Hinsdale

Right from the start

I will now be taking a break from my regularly scheduled companionship tribute posts to list the greatest Erin quotes from my trip to Utah.

My sister Erin, in case you were unaware, is the funniest freaking person on Earth.

(Except when she is giving unsolicited life advice and refusing to acknowledge that we are the SAME age again!)

Here are the best Erin quotes of the Infamous Utah Trip 2014

"Lor...you need help and you need it fast"

"You're spiralling, Lori. I can't tell if it's up or down"

(Upon seeing my Spanish book of Mormon) "You're not going to make me read that with you, are you?"

"I know how much weird people like buttered noodles"

"Buster (her cat) just pulled a power play on me! He peed on the bathroom carpet RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!" (last words shrieked in a tone of absolute outrage)

"Mom and Dad are in the same show- Dad's backstage and Mom's out front. And you have season tickets to the show"

"You are a total manipulator- you get the pot all stirred up and then walk in like "what??" but you knew all along what you were doing!"

"Saturday Conference is depressing"

(me) "They call Elder Uctdorf the silver fox" (Eri) "No, they do not!" (me) "Yes, they do!" (Eri) "Not they do not!" (repeat times 10)

"Stop texting me at 1 am telling me you are out partying with your mission companions!"

(me) "Stop giving me life advice, we are almost the same age" (Eri) "I am the older sister, that's my job" (me) "Less than 10 months older doesn't count as being an "older sister" " (Eri- practically shrieking in outrage) "Yes it does!!"

"How many times have I told you not to call or text me before 9 am?"

"Why did you just give me half a donut? What is going on here?"

"You brought tasty cakes in your carry-on? What is wrong with you?"

" I knew it! I knew you were going to get hopped up and make all kinds of crazy plans with your companions!" (me) "It's just lunch, that's not so crazy" (Eri) "CRAZY!"

There are probably a million more in just the 3 short days I was there. No one makes me laugh like Eri.

Lori Ann

(same age as Erin Leigh)

And I owe it all to you

Back to the travel posts!!

Today's post is dedicated to my 4th companion- Sister Lorena Hendricks.

Whom I also still call Hendricks.

I remember the day I met Hendricks.

It was in the MTC (missionary training center) and she was randomly sitting in front of me and Winsor.

She went out to Chicago six weeks before us because her mission call was English speaking, though she ended up doing both.

She actually taught herself Spanish.

Esta bien inteligente!

The next time I saw Hendricks was my first day in the mission field.

I was terrified out of my mind because I had just had to go on the L train in downtown Chicago and talk to people about Jesus and the Book of Mormon.

And I had found out my trainer spoke very little english.

She was there, picking up a new companion or something and she kept singing this song (to the tune of "this is the song that never ends")

"This is the mission that never ends...it just goes on and on, my friend.."

It was something that made me laugh on a really tough day.

Hendricks made me laugh alot.

She dressed up as a turkey for me on Thanksgiving.

Like a legit turkey.

She taught me the value of lighting a Virgen de Guadalupe candle the night before transfer calls.

She showed me the importance of loving the people of Chicago- whether they were member, investigators (what we call the people we are teaching about the church) or non members with no interest in learning more.

Just like Christ, she loved all the people, regardless of their situation.

In rereading my mission journal, I would frequently complain that she was so focused on relationship building when I felt that we should be running around, teaching and baptizing.

I wish I had had more maturity and insight because I think she was brilliant.

She still keeps in touch with so many people from the mission field.

People that she took the time and effort to build relationships with.

She, like Tyler, changed my life.

Y la extrano un poco cada dia.

Hinsdale

Look how they shine for you

I am taking a brief pause in my fascinating travel posts to say 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 

to my amazing nephew Jack- Jack. 

Now that my blog is public again, I won't put his picture up. 

Even though it's all over this blog.

I am trying to be respectful of my sister. She claims there are pedophiles online...so odd, right? 

There aren't any weirdos online :) 

ANYWAY,

Jack Jack- when you read this one day I want you to know that:

I have loved you every minute of every day since October 8th, 2002. 

You changed our family in the best way. 

You made me an aunt, which has been the most important role I've ever had in my entire life. 

You make me smile every single time I see you. 

I love how thoughtful you can be. 

I love how loving you can be. 

I am so proud of the young man you are becoming. 

I can't wait to see you passing the sacrament. 

(Aaronic priesthood, baby!)

I am always here for you. 

Nothing could ever change that. 

Happy 12th, my sweet baby Jack!!

Lori Ann 

How I know you

 I have decided to break my Utah trip down into several posts. 

Because the only thing better than one tedious travel post is MULTIPLE tedious travel posts!!

I stayed with my sister Erin and her devil cats (who I love!) and they deserve and will get their whole own post. 

But since my first night there was the mission reunion, I thought I'd start there.

I saw 3 of my 7 companions. 

My favorite 3 actually. 

All of whom will get... you guessed it....their very own post. 

And of all of my favorites, Tyler is my most favorite. 

Here we were- 21 years old, living in a small town in Illinois. 

Teaching people about God. 

Here we are- 13 years later.

 She (damn her!) has not aged at all. 

Despite 10 plus years of marriage and 3 (ADORABLE) sons. 

I was the one who was supposed to still look 21, with my child free, man free lifestyle. 

Anyway, 

I love Tyler. 

(Whose real name is Shannon  Brewer but I can't call her that)

She changed my life. 

On the mission she was focused, fearless, and driven. 

I was the opposite. 

I was busily counting down the days until the end, endlessly fearful, and looking to avoid missionary work at every available opportunity. 

She taught me how to be brave. 

When people would half slam their doors in our faces
(Hispanic people are too nice to REALLY slam their doors)

, instead of feeling dejected and wanting to go home, she would pull out this little notebook she had and write down the new words she had heard and wanted to learn. 

"Sister Hinsdale, I think they just called us evil ducks...I'm not sure though, we can look it up!" 

She made me laugh, threw me a pirate themed birthday party, recreated the Dirty Dancing finale scene with our other companion, taught me how to add body to my hair, had the BEST sister speaking at Conference voice EVER, and supported me in all my crazy service project ideas. 

My new goal is to convince her to move out East. 

Thanks, Tyler for coming all the way out to Lindon.

 And for making me laugh.

 And meeting up with me for odd barbecue salad lunches. 

But most importantly, thank you for being who you are and thank you for changing my life. 

Even though years have passed and the mission (at times) seems almost like another life time, I still feel the same as I did then. 

Que somos hermanas.

Hinsdale

5

You guys, it's my birthday. 

And the 5 year anniversary of this blog. 

And in typical Spinster Chronicles traditions, I am going to list my 5 goals for the next year. 

But I also wanted to reflect on my favorite 5 moments in the last 5 years. 

It's about to get real. 

Let's start with my favorite 5 moments from the last 5 years. 

1. My 30th birthday party- it was exactly 5 years ago today that my family threw me the most epic surprise party in North Carolina. My parents showed up as a surprise and my sister Erin asked my friends for their favorite memories of me and my sister Danielle got me 30 gifts and had a chocolate fountain and everything. It was magical. 

Here is the link to my first blog post. 

2. Passing my clinicial licensure. I was SO freaked out and SO sure I would fail (though standardized testing is my only super power). It was an incredible moment when the screen flashed in front of me and said "Congratulations!" 

3. Getting the Sugar cookie. I've never really had a long term pet. And I wasn't sure about Sugar at first. She was an Amish cat who had escaped the farm and she made my life crazy from day one. But she has been one of the best decisions I've ever made.

4. Completing that first half marathon. The Love Run. Going from not being able to walk through the walmart without having to sit down to being able to complete a half marathon in the cold and rain was one of the most confidence building experiences of my life. 

5. My trip to Utah. I jut got back from visiting my sister in Salt Lake City. I also got to see my mission companions and it was awesome. (And like they said- kind of surreal). I hadn't realized how much I missed them until I saw them again.

And now for my five goals for this year.....

1. Lose the last 70 lbs. I've come a long way but I don't want to get complacent and just stay where I am. I want to be at my goal weight by this time next year.

2. Read all standard works- cover to cover. I got new English scriptures while I was in Utah and I want to spend the year immersing myself in God's words and guidance. 

3. Start and maintain a habit of doing my hair/makeup- I've never been consistent with my appearance but I know I can create a habit if I dedicate myself to it. 

4. Complete 10 bucket list goals- not sure which ones, but I want to keep myself focused on LIVING my life, not just exisisting. 

5. Serve. I am going to get more specific but I want this to be a year (and really a life) of service. 

We'll see how it goes. 

Wish me luck and here is to another 5 crazy years of the Spinster Chronicles! 

Lori Ann

For Pumpkin and Buster

You guys,

I just got back from one of the most epic trips of my life.

Salt Lake City, UT.

There were cats. 

And pastel de tres leches.

And fancy dinners.

And lunches with people who inspire me. 

And more cats.

I will have ALL the details (even the ones you don't want) in the upcoming week.

Also, this week we are celebrating this blog's 5th anniversary!!!

(And my unfortunate 35 anniversary of living..yikes, half way to 70!)

To celebrate this trip, this blogiversary, and my infamous b-day, I made this blog public again.

Tell your friends!

Unless your friends are pedophiles and weirdos.

Then, only tell them if you really, really trust them. 

Lori Ann